comet(n.)
"一类绕太阳运行的天体,其轨道呈椭圆形",公元1200年左右,源自古法语 comete(12世纪,现代法语 comète),源自拉丁语 cometa,源自希腊语 (aster) komētēs,字面意思为“长发(星)”,源自 komē “头发”(比较 koman “让头发长长”),其起源不详。因彗星的尾巴类似于飘动的头发而得名。
只有在靠近太阳时才能看到,古代人认为它们是灾难、瘟疫和王国覆灭的征兆。哈雷在1682年证实了许多彗星是周期性的。1833年的 Comet-wine 是在任何有显著彗星出现的年份酿造的,被认为具有更好的口感(最初的参考是1811年的大彗星)。相关词汇: Cometary; cometic; cometical。
Their sudden appearance in the heavens, and the imposing and astonishing aspect which they present, have, even in recent times, inspired alarm and terror. One however—the splendid comet of 1811—escaped somewhat of the general odium; for as it was supposed to be an agent concerned in the remarkably beautiful autumn of that year, and was also associated with the abundant and superior yield of the continental vineyards, the wine of that season was called the comet wine. [The Leisure Hour, April 15, 1852]
它们在天空中突然出现,呈现出令人惊叹的壮观景象,即使在最近的时代,也会引起恐慌和恐惧。然而,1811年辉煌的彗星在某种程度上逃脱了普遍的不满; 因为人们认为它是与那一年显著美丽的秋天有关的一种因素,并且还与欧洲葡萄园的丰收和优质产量有关,因此那个季节的葡萄酒被称为 comet wine。[《闲暇时光》,1852年4月15日]
Beware of wine named after noted vintages long passed, which is generally a clap-trap, the genuine wines being all before secured for years in private stocks. If "comet wine," or any other noted vintage, be offered, decline it, and nine times out of ten you escape an imposition. [Cyrus Redding, "Every Man His Own Butler," London, 1852]
要小心那些以过去著名年份命名的葡萄酒,这通常是一种欺骗,真正的葡萄酒都被私人储藏多年。如果提供“彗星酒”或其他著名年份的葡萄酒,请拒绝,十有八九你会避免上当。[赛勒斯·雷丁,《每个人都是自己的管家》,伦敦,1852年]
该词起源时间:约1200年